The Bluebird Cafe

4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215, USA

Address:	4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215, USA
Phone:	+1 615-383-1461
Site:	bluebirdcafe.com
Rating:	4.3
Working:	5:30–11PM 5–11PM 5–11PM 5–11PM 5:30PM–12AM 5:30PM–12AM 5–11PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 7

Carter Duggan

5.0 star rating 11/16/2016 Its difficult to put into words how cool it is to go to the Bluebird Cafe if youre a country music fan. The venue is so small and intimate, and realizing just how many amazing artists got their start here is unbelievable. Yes, its difficult to get tickets. We didnt get tickets so we showed up an hour and a half early and got in without a problem. The first 8 in line get seats at the bar and then next 10-12 get church style pew seats. From what I gathered, there is no cover charge for these seats during the early show, just a $7/person food & drink minimum. Honestly I cant speak to the food because I didnt eat it, but no one goes for the food. Do yourself a favor and make the extra effort to get in here. Its worth the trouble. Its difficult to put into words how cool it is to go to the Bluebird Cafe if youre a country music fan. The venue is so small and intimate, and realizing just how many amazing artists got their start here is unbelievable. Yes, its difficult to get tickets. We didnt get tickets so we showed up an hour and a half early and got in without a problem. The first 8 in line get seats at the bar and then next 10-12 get church style pew seats. From what I gathered, there is no cover charge for these seats during the early show, just a $7/person food & drink minimum. Honestly I cant speak to the food because I didnt eat it, but no one goes for the food. Do yourself a favor and make the extra effort to get in here. Its worth the trouble.

Bryan Mose

My girlfriend and I had an awful experience as we came here from Indiana for the 1 year anniversary of our first date. We knew that doors opened at 5:30 so we planned on getting there well before then and arrived just before 5pm. A female employee of the Bluebird told us that we could not park on their lot for another 5 minutes and told us to drive around until then. We obliged and parked at the next door lot in front of a business that closed at 5. After waiting a half an hour, the same girl came up to us in the line we were in and noticed my girlfriend, who was driving, from earlier when we tried to park at the Bluebird lot. She said something along the lines of her remembering that we were the ones who tried to park early before and I acknowledged. She then told us to go in a different line. We assumed it was a line for those who werent performing, but actually it was another line of people who had gotten there well after we had been. We never got in to see the show despite some talk of another employee about there generally being turnover. All in all we waited 2 hours and 23 minutes before leaving after never getting in to see the open mic show.

A Private User

Great Music? You will most definitely find that at the Bluebird Cafe However, if you are one of those people who actually expect your waitresses to be polite and to ask you if you would like a refill...or even check to see if you would like to order anything else, forget about it. After having given up on our waitress actually caring that our drinks were empty and had been for over an hour, we were watching the songwriters perform when the waitress came to our table and began pulling the menus out from underneath our arms...No "excuse me" just started pulling... The host kept urging the audience members to tip the wait staff because they "work so hard" ....This is an utter and complete joke. On more than one occasion our waitress was extremely busy standing at the bar watching the show.......... Other small things that could be fixed (if management actually gave a crap about its customers satisfaction with their "Bluebird experience") are the hard wooden chairs which are horribly uncomfortable. The over all shoddy appearance of the place. The music WAS good but we will not be back.... Amy, your service is HORRIBLE........

Jenna Cassel

The door man is so nice and sweet. The performance was intimate and amazing. HOWEVER the guy at the cashier station who seats you was extremely rude and disrespectful. I waited 2 hours outside to be the fourth person seated for on reservations. He sat me in tye way back where I couldnt see over heads when there was tables open up front. When I asked to switch up front he insisted the people in line get that. (I was first I should get the better view). After asking again and insisting, he yelled at me saying fine Ill do it. Our waitress was very shirt and I asked for a soda because I dont drink and she rolled her eyes and said "a soda ugh". I was shocked at the employees behavior. When I bought 2 shirts I asked to open it up to see the fit, that cashier guy who seated me, he yelled at me saying its a standard shirt. When I realized the med was too small looking and asked for a large to buy he threw the medium shirt on the floor and checked me out for 2 shirts with no grace. I was very appalled. Great musicians. Bought a CD! Horrible staff!!!

Craig Brunotte

I was not at all excited to go there. My wife was hyped. After arriving to get in line shortly before 3 PM we were one of the first 15 people in line so we were able to get seated in one of the "church pews". This is a Cafe, the 4-5 artist/musicians sit right in the middle of the room in a circle right amongst the patrons. Each artist performs one of their own songs and they take turns playing. Often they share a backstory as to what inspired the lyrics or other colour commentary before they perform a song. Very intimate. They only CON is the inconvenience of getting a seat (I guess they are very high demand) . I loved that it was very "grass roots" and unpretentious. The staff is super friendly. The experience won me over. A MUST SEE if you visit Nashville. Most people that only give it one star is because they couldnt get a seat. Its in such high demand because its enjoyable if you make it in the door.

pezman1963

I have played at the Monday Open Mic 10 times, tonight will be the 11th since July of 2013. I have been there to support other artist playing in writers rounds and attended songwriter seminars held there. It has always been a magical experience. Its now owned by the Nashville Songwriters Association International. (NSAI) Its all about the music. Many legends have graced the stage and many who on their way to be legends are playing there now. While you can get food and drink there its about the music. Are there lines to get in yes! Is it worth it? YES! If there pre-reserved seats the night you want to go please try to get one. Even on those there are a few un-researved seats in the church pews. People dream about playing in this place.... dream can and do come true here. Music fans this a must see.

Syl andRic

Well, as singer-songwriters visiting Music city, we had to play Bluebird Cafés open-mic, so we did it. The sign-up is by phone now, if youre lucky enough to get someone on the phone, and we were. As performers, we were not so badly treated, compare to the poor customers who had to line-up in the sun from 4 pm. (in August) ! We had our share though, and had to line up in the sun too, but only for an hour... Hopefully, the staff was kind, so were the artists. There is one thing about singer-songwriters Open-mics that I dont understand: why is everybody so serious? Where is the joy of playing and hearing music? I know that one need to be quite to really appreciate the lyrics of the songs, but OMG! the ambiance is kind of sad. Cheer up guys! This is all about music!